Portion of backcountry ski system to open after wildfire

A portion of a popular backcountry ski system in central Idaho will open this winter following a wildfire that burned through the area this summer.

The U.S. Forest Service and Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation in a statement Thursday say two yurts in the Idaho City Backcountry Yurt System deemed safe will be available possibly as early as November.

Yurts are round, tent-like structures with a dome roof and plastic skin. In winter, the yurts are booked months in advance by backcountry skiers.

One of the $60,000 yurts in the six-yurt system burned in the fire, and three others are deemed to be in areas too dangerous for travel.

Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Jennifer Okerlund says officials are looking at the possibility of rebuilding the destroyed yurt.